. >> reporter: vice president joe biden is apparently that person for senate minority leader mitch mcconnell. top level sources say the two are taking over talks. if nothing is resolved by midnight, tax rates for all americans will increase and democrats say it means about $2,000 for the average middle class family. >> one mom said to me in michigan, that's four months groceries. that's commuting back and forth to work and gas for up to three years. i mean, that's a lot of money. >> reporter: democrats want higher taxes on families earning $250,000 a year and over. republicans want tax rates to stay where they are. taxes seem to be the biggest obstacle to a compromise but others want to government -- others want to see government spending put in check. >> the president is doing nothing about the addiction that his administration, he is the spender in chief. >> reporter: president obama says he is willing to do that. >> i offered over a trillion dollars in additional spending cuts so we would have $2 cuts for every $1 of increased revenue. >> senate is in recess. >> reporter: the senate recon